10. Light to the World: Holy Communion in Epiphany

Light to the World:

Holy Communion in Epiphany

Notes

Type of service

¶    A Service of the Word with a celebration of Holy Communion for use in the period between the Epiphany and the Presentation of Christ (Candlemas);

¶    A fully worked out sample, suitable for local reproduction (note that it does not include all the words required by the president).

General

Because this is a service for the season of Epiphany, rather than the Feast of the Epiphany, the particular texts chosen reflect the general themes of ‘revelation’ and light, rather than focusing on the more specific Epiphany themes of the wise men, the baptism of Christ or the miracle at the wedding at Cana.

Points to note:

¶    The Gloria takes the place of the opening hymn;

¶    The prayers of penitence are in the alternative place before the prayers of intercession, to allow people to respond to God’s word.

Eucharistic Prayer

This order is suitable as printed for use with Prayers A, B, C, E and G, though Prayer G does not allow for a seasonal Proper Preface.

Light to the World

Holy Communion in Epiphany

We say together the words printed in bold.

The Greeting

The Lord be with you

All   and also with you.

God in Christ has revealed his glory.

All   Come let us worship.

From the rising of the sun to its setting

All   the Lord’s name is greatly to be praised.

Give him praise, you servants of the Lord.

All   O praise the name of the Lord!

Gloria in Excelsis

All   Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

The Collect

Reading(s)

After each reading

This is the word of the Lord.

All   Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading

When the Gospel is announced the reader says

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N.

All   Glory to you, O Lord.

and at the end

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All   Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Affirmation of Faith

This, or some other, authorized Affirmation of Faith, or a Creed, may be used

Let us affirm our faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God.

All   Though he was divine,

he did not cling to equality with God,

but made himself nothing.

Taking the form of a slave,

he was born in human likeness.

He humbled himself

and was obedient to death,

even the death of the cross.

Therefore God has raised him on high,

and given him the name above every name:

that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

Prayers of Penitence

When the Lord comes,

he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness,

and will disclose the purposes of the heart.

Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins.

God be gracious to us and bless us,

and make your face shine upon us:

Lord, have mercy.

All   Lord, have mercy.

May your ways be known on the earth,

your saving power among the nations:

Christ, have mercy.

All   Christ, have mercy.

You, Lord, have made known your salvation,

and reveal your justice in the sight of the nations:

Lord, have mercy.

All   Lord, have mercy.

The president declares God’s forgiveness.

Prayers of Intercession

This response may be used

Lord, in your mercy

All   hear our prayer.

The prayers may conclude

Merciful Father,

All   accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer may be said here or after the Eucharistic Prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

All   Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and for ever.

Amen.

The service may end here with Blessing and Dismissal.

The Peace

Christ came and proclaimed the gospel,

peace to those who are far off

and peace to those who are near.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

All   and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

All may exchange a sign of peace.

Preparation of the Table

Taking of the Bread and Wine

This prayer may be said

Look upon us in mercy, not in judgement;

draw us from hatred to love;

make the frailty of our praise

a dwelling place for your glory.

All   Amen.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you

All   and also with you.

(or)

The Lord is here.

All   His Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts.

All   We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All   It is right to give thanks and praise.

The president praises God for his mighty acts, ending with

All   Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

[Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.]

The president recalls the Last Supper.

This acclamation may be used

Great is the mystery of faith:

All   Christ has died:

Christ is risen:

Christ will come again.

The Prayer ends

All   Amen.

(or)

All   Blessing and honour and glory and power

be yours for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer should be said here if it has not been used earlier.

Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread

to share in the body of Christ.

All   Though we are many, we are one body,

because we all share in one bread.

The Agnus Dei (‘Lamb of God’) may be said or sung.

Giving of Communion

The president invites the people to receive communion.

Prayer after Communion

Silence is kept.

God of glory,

you nourish us with your Word

who is the bread of life.

Fill us with your Holy Spirit,

that through us the light of your glory

may shine in all the world.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

All   Amen.

All   Almighty God,

we thank you for feeding us

with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.

Through him we offer you our souls and bodies

to be a living sacrifice.

Send us out

in the power of your Spirit

to live and work

to your praise and glory.

Amen.

Blessing

May Christ draw you to humility and worship,

and bring you to see God at work;

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

All   Amen.

The Dismissal

Let us go in peace.

All   We go into the world

to walk in God’s light,

to rejoice in God’s love

and to reflect God’s glory.

Amen.

A service from New Patterns for Worship. Compilation copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2002.